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Speed limit of computers detected

Scientists have discovered a speed limit for computer chips, with one petahertz being the maximum frequency for signal transmission. The research uses ultra-short laser pulses to create electrical currents in dielectric materials, allowing for faster data transmission.

SourceGraz University of Technology·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 25, 2022

Perovskites used to make efficient artificial retina

KAUST researchers develop an artificial electronic retina that mimics human vision and recognizes handwritten numbers with high accuracy. The retina uses perovskite nanocrystals to detect light intensity via capacitive change, offering a more energy-efficient alternative to existing systems.

SourceKing Abdullah University of Science & Technology (KAUST)·JournalLight Science & Applications·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateFeb 23, 2022

Soft components for the next generation of soft robotics

Researchers developed electrically-driven soft valves to control hydraulic soft actuators, enabling faster and more powerful control of macro- and small-scale hydraulic actuators. The breakthrough allows for unprecedented motion control of soft robots with internal volume ranging from hundreds of microliters to tens of milliliters.

SourceHarvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateSep 8, 2021

Copper and PTFE stick together to support better 5G

Osaka University researchers have created an adhesive-free method to strongly combine copper foil with polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), reducing transmission losses in electronic circuits. The heat-assisted plasma treatment technique improves adhesion strength without adding intermediate layers.

SourceOsaka University·TypeExperimental study·DateSep 2, 2021

‘Missing jigsaw piece’: engineers make critical advance in quantum computer design

Quantum engineers at the University of New South Wales have discovered a new technique to control millions of spin qubits, a critical step towards building a practical quantum computer. This breakthrough uses a novel component called a dielectric resonator to focus microwave power and deliver uniform magnetic fields across the chip.

SourceUniversity of New South Wales·JournalScience Advances·TypeExperimental study·DateAug 13, 2021

Insulators turn up the heat on quantum bits

Researchers at the University of Innsbruck develop new method to assess influence of dielectric materials on charged particles in ion traps, enabling more accurate design and minimization of noise in quantum computers. The breakthrough improves understanding of sources of error in ion trap quantum computing.

SourceUniversity of Innsbruck·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateJun 14, 2021

Towards applications: ultra-low-loss on-chip zero-index materials

Scientists have designed a zero-index material based on a purely dielectric photonic crystal slab that supports low-order mode-based design, reducing radiation loss. This design enables applications such as arbitrarily shaped waveguides, phase-mismatch-free nonlinear propagation, and extended super radiance with low propagation loss.

Hidden-symmetry-enforced nexus points of nodal lines in layer-stacked dielectric photonic crystals

Scientists discovered a new kind of hidden symmetry in photonic crystals, leading to the emergence of triply degenerate nexus points that behave like magnetic monopoles. These nexus points enable unusual photonic band connectivities and novel transport phenomena, including spin-1 conical dispersion and canonical diffraction.

Light from inside the tunnel

Physicists from Max Born Institute and University of Rostock discover light-induced tunneling of electrons in dielectrics, creating a nonlinear current that dominates bright bursts of light. This finding expands fundamental understanding of optical non-linearity and its applications in information processing and material processing.

SourceForschungsverbund Berlin·JournalNature Physics·DateJun 30, 2020

New stretchable, self-healing and illuminating electronic material for wearables and soft robots

Researchers from National University of Singapore developed a new stretchable material called HELIOS that can store more electronic charges at lower voltages, enabling higher brightness and longer operating lifetime. The material has self-healing properties, allowing it to repair itself under ambient environmental conditions.

SourceNational University of Singapore·JournalNature Materials·DateMay 30, 2020

A small step for atoms, a giant leap for microelectronics

Scientists at Rice University successfully grew atom-thick sheets of hexagonal boron nitride, a wide band gap semiconductor, to create perfectly ordered crystals for use in integrated circuits. The breakthrough enables the development of 2D layers with millions of transistors, potentially overcoming limitations in miniaturization.

SourceRice University·JournalNature·DateMar 4, 2020

An optimized structure of memristive device for neuromorphic computing systems implemented

Lobachevsky University scientists create a new variant of the metal-oxide memristive device that holds promise for use in RRAM and novel computing systems, including neuromorphic ones. The optimized structure stabilizes resistive switching between nonlinear resistive states, enabling robust switching and low variation of resistive states.

SourceLobachevsky University·JournalAdvanced Materials Technologies·DateFeb 19, 2020

Better studying superconductivity in single-layer graphene

Physicists have discovered that an existing technique is more accurate in explaining the 'critical temperature' of superconductivity in pure, single-layer graphene. This finding has significant implications for understanding graphene's diverse structural properties and potentially aiding the development of new technologies.

SourceSpringer·JournalThe European Physical Journal B·DateDec 13, 2019

Jumping the gap may make electronics faster

Researchers have developed a method to transfer information using surface plasmon polaritons (SPPs), enabling faster signal propagation in microelectronic chips. The technique, which uses multiple snapshots of electromagnetic fields, can potentially solve the problem of shrinking electronic components and improve the speed of chips.

SourcePenn State·JournalScientific Reports·DateSep 26, 2019

New way to beat the heat in electronics

A nanocomposite combining polymer nanofibers and boron nitride nanosheets offers high strength and superior thermal conduction, allowing it to withstand harsh environments. The material acts as an effective heat sink up to 250 degrees Celsius.

SourceRice University·JournalAdvanced Functional Materials·DateMay 16, 2019